Police issues back on agenda

Oak Creek Town Board to focus on public complaints

Steamboat Springs  Complaints against the Oak Creek Police Department again are at issue and will be discussed at tonight's Town Board meeting.

A good deal of grumbling has gone on in town in the past few weeks, after a bartender at the Elk's Tavern was cited for serving visibly intoxicated patrons. However, those doing the complaining are again circumventing complaint and review procedures the town has put in place, according to Police Chief Russ Caterinicchio.

"We're having some problems in having our public follow the procedures of making complaints, and working overtime to politicize them before we have the opportunity to respond to them fairly," Caterinicchio said.

The complaint process for Oak Creek police - or any other town department - dictates that any complaints should first go to the department head, then to the appointed commissioners who oversee that department, and if necessary, to the Town Board.

The process and the substance of recent complaints will be at issue tonight, police commissioner Dave Ege said, though he declined to comment further on the issue before tonight's meeting, where town attorney Bob Weiss will be on hand.

The Town Board also will discuss the results of the 2008 Community Survey, which was mailed to residents in March. The results were coded by a group of Soroco High School students, under the leadership of teacher Tammy Gilleland.

In the survey, which included questions about the police department, a sizeable majority of respondents indicated they have noticed an increased police presence in Oak Creek and in their immediate neighborhoods. However, reaction to that increase was more varied. While almost half agreed they felt good about the increased police presence, a third disagreed, according to the results.

"When we started, there were complaints about a very strong police presence," Caterinicchio said, referring to the police department reforming last fall. "Now, we have virtually no traffic tickets. Traffic on Main Street has calmed down so much that we've moved on to other areas."

Also on the agenda for Thursday's meeting:

- A presentation by outgoing South Routt School District Superintendent Kelly Reed, about electricity rates for the Soroco High School and Soroco Middle School campus

- A presentation from Tim Geiger about park equipment for Sierra View Park

If you are not intent on breaking the law, why would police presence bother you? As long as the drunks and drug users are molly-coddled, a working policeman doesn't have a chance. When will the mayor's bar be cited for serving visibly intoxicated patrons, that bar is just as bad?

While we 're at it does anyone know of illegal activity over time at the Colorado bar across the street? I'm quite sure there are standards bar owners must meet. Type activity out as a question not a fact. I do not mind calling the state or who ever to investigate possible complaints. Use first names and leave out last names. Investigators only need basic info.

Rat holes in the Oc have long been needed brought into compliance. Stop by businesses suspected to not be up to code. Doug of Yampa is the county code inspector ask him what OC businesses are required to have and what is grandfathered.

You will find that there are very few places that a citizen can lodge a complaint against law enforcment agencies and have any action taken at all. Unless a federal crime has been committed, they pretty much don't care. Incompetence is not a crime, and frankly the feds will tell you that they have bigger fish to fry.

You might think that the CBI (Co. Bureau of Investigation) would be interested, but they're not. Same deal as the feds, mostly. They only come into a case when invited in by local agencies, or compelled by executive order from above. If they don't care about judges breaking federal laws, they sure won't care about a local PD making unsafe u-turns.

The average citizen is stuck with the hassle and the expense of hiring a lawyer who will tell you that you need to put up $20,000 to $30,000 to file a lawsuit. Good luck with that . . . .

Uh, hey, so where's the Colorado State Patrol while this unsafe driving is going on? I mean, geez, if they will stop the Routt County Sheriff for failing to dim his lights, they ought to cite a local cop for an unsafe lane change, or illegal u-turn, or SOMETHING -- oh, but that's right -- unsafe u-turns are part of the CSP bag of tricks.

I guess you're all out of luck.

My suggestion would be to hang out there with a video camera and record everything that happens, because eventually, you'll have something worth putting on America's Funniest Home Videos and you might win $10,000!

Id04: The only thing that's funny here is you, why would you complain about law enforcement doing their job, . . . . . keeping the community safe. The Bar owner needs to be educated on identifying customers that should not be served. If the patron goes out and harms someone, or himself, is the Bar owner going to step up and assume responsibility? :: I vote public safety over the Bar owner making a buck.

the direction is agreeable. most of oc problems seem to come from the drug/drinking/bar choices. they have good reason to hate any pd. pd interrupts their party.
but rather than look for information here a better place is roam the oc. being drunk is like being full of truth serum. most hate each other and normally are willing to do their neighbors in. not a place of brotherly love.
just a thought.

today stocks were down 358. houses locally are not selling well. oil today went to 140.00 a barrell quite a record high. fuel will follow and so will crime rates as our economy nose dives towards a possible depression era. routt county could do a little better from now til fall than others. hopefully our little area will wake up to the need and respect for police protection .

Now that the speeders are curtailed, it is time to focus on the real criminals, the cats at large. Beware your cat will be arrested if you are not around. If you happen to be around, you will be ticketed when your cat is out of your yard, rather it is you cat or not! Lets get these criminial off the street, now. It is our officers first priority!

I think it's a good thing the cops are out doing their jobs and deterring crime instead of carrying on vendettas against each other, or just sitting around the ACET office scheduling their next press release and deciding who is going to get busted this time. How do they figure that out? Does somebody have to skip a payment, or what?

Id04: You sound a little resentful that ACET is an effective organization.

Try and envision what crimes of the future may be and ACET one step closer to preventing them. The community should demand that law enforcement take every opportunity they can to use technology to reduce crime and improve the quality of everyone lives.

Tell me, what is your boy Wall working on with his resources? Oh yea, he has everyone interviewing his witnesses.

Sounds like the Bar owner wants the Sheriffs department back in town, "Drunks Rule" declaration.

Quit: When you are filling the producers in on what is going on around here don't forget to mention that yesterday he forced a minor to drive over the curb & on to the sidewalk (coming to a schreeching halt) scared out of her mind, forced a full size pickup into the bar-ditch as he so frantically was flipping a u-turn in front of the liquor store & chasing a vehicle out of town. What ever happened to the safety of citizens? Oh & here is question for someone. Is it illegal for a male officer to search a female suspect?

nmypinion, Did you PERSONALLY WITNESS these three events? Bar-ditch in front of the liquor store? Was the minor and the pickup doing the speed limit? It's hard to get so flustered at someone "flipping a U" when you're only doing 25mph.

could u find out the exact wording on permissibity on emergency/police vehicles for u-turns specifically in oc. my understanding was they can take any means necessary within safe reason which would include going down any road even backwards,off the edge of lines, run thru ditches or what ever to catch criminals.

what seems to the public as a teen just speeding in reality law enforcement could know this youth to be a long time druggy or be involved illegally locally. the parents and family are the last to know.

quick decisions are life saving and part of pd. that same speed and accuracy would race to the side of any oc person in their time of emergency. thanks russ and crew for the watchful eye over oc even while being battered by those who seek to destroy what is good.

how much was alloted in oc budget for 2008 fuel? with more new employees,code enforcer and others needing tranportation was wondering. the opec president said to expect oil to reach $180-$190 a barrel by summers end . today it reached another record high.

my question is this, how to translate price per gallon to price per barrel and is the budget for this in place? this would include fuel for oc heavy equipment etc.

unknowns with fuel prices have the power to crash other budget needs.

these to me are important issues we need to talk about and not spend time chasing pd.

Obedience to police or sheriff's officers. No person shall
willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of
any peace officer invested by law with authority to direct, control, or
regulate traffic

Public officers to obey provisions - exceptions for emergency
vehicles. (1) The provisions of this Code are applicable to the drivers of
vehicles upon the highways shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles
owned or operated by the United States, this state, or any county, city,
town, district, or other political subdivision of the state, subject to such
specific exceptions as are set forth in this Code with reference to authorized
emergency vehicles.
(2) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to
an emergency call, or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator
of the law, or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire
alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to
the conditions stated in this Code. The driver of an authorized emergency
vehicle may:
(a) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this Code or state
law;
(b) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing
down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(c) Exceed the lawful speeds set forth in section 1101(2) or exceed the
maximum lawful speed limits set forth in section 1101(8) so long as said
driver does not endanger life or property;
(d) Disregard regulations governing directions of movement or turning
in specified directions.
(3) The exemptions granted in paragraphs (b) to (d) of subsection (2)
of this section to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when
such vehicle is making use of audible and visual signals meeting the
requirements of section 213, and the exemption granted in paragraph (a)
of subsection (2) of this section shall apply only when such vehicle is
making use of visual signals meeting the requirements of section 213
6
unless using such visual signals would cause an obstruction to the
normal flow of traffic; except that an authorized emergency vehicle
being operated as a police vehicle while in actual pursuit of a suspected
violator of any provision of this title need not display or make use of
audible and visual signals so long as such pursuit is being made to obtain
verification of or evidence of the guilt of the suspected violator. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to require an emergency vehicle to
make use of audible signals when such vehicle is not moving, whether or
not the vehicle is occupied.
(4) The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an
authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for
the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from
the consequences of such driver's reckless disregard for the safety of
others.

naylored - Your comments lead me to believe that you are actually Russ.

I bet that you are...............Your long time druggy comments about a youth give you away. Considering you've only been here for less than year, those comments are absurd and no more accurate than the comments coming out of the bars.

justathought - I'm not sure of the facts that lead to nmyopinon's comments, but I have personally witnessed Russ almost being the cause of 2 accidents. He was extremely excited and disregarded public safety to chase down 2 separate grandma's that we're possibly going near 27 or 28 mph. And, we all know the fact the he has an attempted hit and run in Oak Creek, but got busted before he could actually flee the scene.

It seems to me, that if you are not enamored by doing away with the Midwestern way of law enforcement and stepping up to the northeastern firm handednesses; you must be a drunk or a druggie. But, naylored, you seemed to have really let your hummingbird behind over take your alligator mouth if you think that because you are or have been a student at SoRoCo you automatically fall in that category. Step back and think before you spew off again. We have some mighty fine kids coming out of this school!

CoJu if someone does a U turn and forces you onto the sidewalk all the pulling over safely in the world would not help you no matter your age. I read that last paragraph different than you, and that was an officer is there to protect and serve and should never put an innocent life in jeopardy.

"This section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of such driver's reckless disregard for the safety of others."

Of course feel free to correct me if that is not what your article said.

at meetings not everybody can stay long. this forum can be an extension of ideas to better oc.

wanted to get opinions on changing the law on roadways between oc and yampa to allow slower more gas saving transportation. this would include stagecoach.

south routt has enough businesses to supply all of our basic needs. soon we will no longer be able to afford to run to s.boat because fuel is not going to be affordable. likely we will be using mass transportation to go to s.boat for work only. no stops allowed to get grocerys or such.

if we can get a temporary usage clause in the state law we maybe able to use solar scooters, electric golf carts,4x4,small mini bikes etc with 6ft. fiberglass poles mounted w large orange flag for motorist to see. we could kick in money with state permission to put warning signage from one end of s. routt to other that slow moving traffic maybe encountered.

times could be set up to rent per say horses/carriages from maybe jill in yampa to sandy in oc. ranchers could work together on feeding/caring for whatever end horses spend that night.

why can we not try this? reality is gas and oil are going to be a problem. we must now be throwing out stupid ideas in order to attain a few good ones.

we possibly could talk oc and yampa grocerers into special ordering for items we miss. we have enough eaterys now for variety. stagecoach provides our rec. needs. we could have pig roasts and family events at local ranchs and celebrate each month. the school is big enough to have singers and musicians engage in concerts.

if held hostage to buying from local grocers only, is it possible they could take advantage of our lack of fuel funds and gouge our food prices?

if so then we could see about co-oping our food supply and do large truck stock ups at sav-a-lot the generic food supplier. storage could be in central location like p-burg. the yampa greenhouses'old tomatoe buildings' would be a great fresh lettuce,onion,greens etc source if the owner would lease or be interested in producing.

would need to find out if any rules laws or tax issues for state or county need addressed. difficult.

hope that retailers understand and will work together with neighbors if the approching fuel crunch zone worsens. luckily for now we are all managing but if the opec presidents prediction of $180-$190 barrel by end of summer pans out we're toast.

Justa: Sorry I did not get back to you sooner. I left town. But yes I did witness this little driving episode. And I was not the only one. There were people at the post office & at Spiro's that also seen this happen.
I agree that age has nothing to do with this. He flipped his u-turn right in front of the first car, she had no time to slow down & pull over in a normal manor. If you do not believe me go ask the lady's that were working at Spiro's that day. There are several more incidents that we could talk about but I do not want my post removed for saying certain names( or complicating law suits) so I will just let you think what you want. And as far as anybody getting a raise it should be the 2 night time SO units that are patrolling OC. The Oc units go off duty or shift (whatever you want to call it) so early that the SO units are called to handle all the late night riff raff. Even the juvienells (sp) are smart enough to know that there are no OC cops on duty late at night.

"I do not want my post removed ( or complicating law suits)"... Knowing OC's background when it comes to lawsuits against the PD and insurance companies settling because it's cheaper to pay off than go to court (win or lose), I have a much better picture of what is happening, DEJA VU, thanks for the info.